Photographs Of Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle is a medieval walled town and Castle with a picturesque harbour overlooking the estuary of the River Conwy.

Conwy Castle (sometimes spelled Conway Castle) is a castle in Conwy, North Wales. It was built between 1283 and 1289 as part of King Edward I's second campaign in north Wales. Like many of the castles in the area, it was designed by James of St. George, although Richard of Chester was responsible for the initial stages. The castle is divided into two wards, with the outer ward and inner ward surrounded by four towers each, with turrets.

Conwy superficially resembles a Concentric castle, but more accurately it is linear. Like Caenarfon Castle, it is built on a rock outcrop, to reduce the possibility of undermining. It also takes advantage of other geographical features.

Nearby Bodysgallen Hall was built in the 13th century as a watchtower for Conwy Castle to lookout for attack from a northerly exposure not easily watched from Conwy itself. Some of the stone used in construction of Conwy Castle has been linked to a quarry at the Bodysgallen property (C.M. Hogan, History of Bodysgallen Hall, July, 2004, Aberdeen Municipal Library Acrchives, Aberdeen, United Kingdom).

The castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a World Heritage Site.

Today Conwy is a bustling town catering for both tourists and the local community. Ancient buildings sit comfortably among more recent properties and there is an abundance of places to visit. Top of the list is the Castle, but there are many more including Plas Mawr, an architectural gem, said to be the finest surviving town house of the Elizabethan era to be found anywhere in Britain. Or down towards the quayside you will find Aberconwy House a 14th-century merchant's house believed to be not only the oldest house in Conwy but the oldest town house in Wales. It has been carefully restored to reflect the daily life of its residents over time.

On the quayside you may enter the smallest house in Britain, or visit the Aquarium and Conwy mussel museum. Take a boat trip on the river and see the Great Orme, or sail upriver to see the full beauty of the Conwy Estuary and the Conwy Valley.


Conwy also offers the chance to see what is probably the worst designed building in Britain.....the extension to the public library near the quayside. You could not find a more inappropriate place for such an ugly concrete monstrosity. Conwy has some very fine hotel accommodation, pubs, restaurants, and tea rooms, all offering excellent food and drink with a warm welcome and friendly service.